When you apply for disability, Social Security will send you a "Function Report" in the mail to complete and return. This form will ask about your activities of daily living (ADL): cooking, shopping, housework, hobbies, bathing, dressing, caring for pets, etc.
Since you aren't working, and probably have not worked in a year or two, Social Security needs to know what you can and can't do. It make sense to ask about things you do around your house every day.
If your daily activities seem very normal and unrestricted, Social Security may determine that you could perform some simple repetitive job. If so, they would deny benefits.
When filling out the Function Report, try to be as specific as you can. Avoid very general terms like "once in a while, not very often, or just a little bit." Try to use more specific terms like minutes, hours, feet, yard, pounds, etc.
For example: How often do you shop and what do you shop for? A poor answer would be, "Not very often. I just shop for things I need." A better answer: "I go to the grocery store and pharmacy once a week and buy food and medicines that I need for the next week."
Leaving answers blank on the form is not a good idea. Try to answer every question.
Do decision makers really read these forms? I think so. Certainly, forms aren't the only piece of evidence used to make a decision but they should not be ignored or taken lightly.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
Social Security Disability Counselors
PHONE (256) 799-0297
No comments:
Post a Comment